A new day, a new idea! From making dog treats and accessories to wiring vintage button & bead concoctions, to sewing with modern fabrics, there's always something crafting at BlueDaisy! The vision of BlueDaisy is to offer hand-made items that are earth-friendly; either creating reusable products or upcycling vintage finds into everyday items with practical uses.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Ingredients: whole-wheat flour, beef broth, milled flax seed, vegetable oil, eggs, and baking powder.That's it. All natural beef dog treats. You can enunciate all of the ingredients and they are safe for your dog to eat (unless there is a wheat allergy).There are a lot of dog treats on the market today, and a responsible dog owner has to be careful and informed when making the decision about what kind of treats to purchase. Dog treat/food manufacturers are required to list the ingredients they use in order by volume. Take a look on their packaging... I know, you probably don't want to. Is it because the words are too big and you don't understand what they are (be truthful), or is it because the word "by-products" is scary all by itself? Some of the stuff used in commercial dog treats/food can be linked to pretty big health issues ranging from renal failure to skin problems.Where all of this comes from:I had a black lab for 12 years- best dog in the whole world! I raised him on commercial dog food and treats. We constantly battled skin problems, ear infections, digestive issues, seizures... the list goes on. He passed away September 9, 2008. His internal organs finally failed him. Two weeks after that, I couldn't stand the quiet around the house, so my husband and I brought "Casey" home. I began researching commercial dog food and treats and through informing myself, made the best decisions I could come up with- I didn't want to go through the same health issues with the new puppy. Casey is a very-healthy 3 years old now, and her veterinarian smiles every time we walk through the door. She often says "What ever you're doing- don't change a thing!"At BlueDaisy, you don't have to worry about where the ingredients come from or what they are- they're in the pantry- and we eat them, ourselves. Each treat comes from hand-rolled dough and cut by hand with my great-grandma's cookie cutter. Approximately 30 treats per bag / 8.5 oz.ALL BlueDaisy dog treats are made to order and require 24 hours to make to perfection. Upon your purchase, I will convo you about ship date.Thanks for reading- and thanks for loving your dog.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

School pictures. A new one when school starts, a new one when sports start, a new one taken with a friend..... you really have to keep up with these before that old picture hanging in the hallway doesn't even look like the kid that just walked through the back door. Easy enough- until the frame has to be taken down and dismantled, the picture has to be trimmed.... then trimmed again, the nail in the wall has to be tightened up with a few more smacks... then the argument with getting the frame to hang straight. Wouldn't it just be easier to... Yes! A frame with magnetic backing and magnets to hold the picture in place! Easy switcheroo!

So, I made a couple of these frames with magnetic backing. Accented with different fabrics, these garage-sale frames took on a whole new look. Photo frame concept-makeover! So I whipped up a few magnets using my vintage buttons, beads and other things and wah-lah... matching magnets!

Be sure to check them out on my website: www.bluedaisycreative.etsy.com

Thursday, August 4, 2011

I was working on a new project last week and looked up from my sewing machine to find pins laying all over the place. I had pulled each one out of the fabric I was sewing and just sort of "tossed" it to the side- trying to keep the material feeding straight. Quick and easy solution for the moment, but as the fabric began to move behind the sewing machine, pins began to drop on the floor. "I need a pincushion!"

I ran across the cute idea of making a pincushion out of a half-pint mason jar. I gathered some scrap pieces of fabric, batting from my grandma, and plugged in the glue gun. Along with a couple of blisters on my fingers from the hot glue, what I got was a super-cute pincushion with its own storage space for pins not in use. Fantastic! So, I made 4 more!

Tonight, I posted them on Etsy. As I was posting one, the others were getting views already! Exciting! Sounds like small potatoes, but it's a step toward my dream of working for myself; sewing, crafting, wiring, etc.

Friday, July 22, 2011

Those who know me will attest to the fact that I have an insatiable curiosity. I am constantly searching for inspiration that will spark new ideas or improvements to current ideas in the making.

It all started with a jar of vintage buttons from my grandma. I paired them with modern beads and jewelry findings, and created my first button-flower bouquet. That idea grew into lapel pins, then bobby pins, then magnetic purse charms, zipper pulls and alligator hair clips. Once I started working with my hands, I couldn't stop!

Now, I've purchased a sewing machine. This is a whole new world! I am a graphic designer by day and have always had an addiction to the many different kinds/colors/textures of paper (my family says this paper addiction started when I was very young). Now, my addiction has turned to fabric! So many colors, designs, weights... so much to learn! Ahhh, a new venture!

Being most comfortable embarking on new projects, this sewing thing is turning into something. Soon, I'll have a few more things to begin selling- I have to dial in a thing or two first! My prototypes are coming along very well and just need a little tweaking.

My goal is to keep all BlueDaisy items earth-friendly by either creating reusable items or upcycling vintage finds into everyday items with practical uses.